A yearlong investigation by NBC News has identified nearly 200 Assemblies of God pastors, staff, and volunteers accused of sexual abuse since the 1970s, alleging a pattern of reinstating offenders, weak reporting, and heavy reliance on local autonomy.

The report claims that 475 people were allegedly abused, most of them children.

It details cases in which ministers returned to pulpits or youth work after prison or “restoration” counseling, with some offending again.

Survivors described assaults in churches, homes, and on trips, saying warnings were ignored or spiritualized.

“We trusted the church to do the right thing,” said Courtney Blackburn, who reported misconduct as a teenager in Arkansas.

Another survivor, Jen Doyle, urged reform, saying: “Stop giving the lawyers a vote.”

NBC noted that efforts in 2019 and 2021 to mandate denomination-wide child protection policies were rejected after legal advisers warned of liability risks.

The General Council said it “grieves with anyone who has been hurt through the actions of an abuser,” described itself as “a leader in preventing and combating child sexual abuse,” and emphasized that affiliated churches govern themselves.

A restoration manual now bars returning anyone who abused children to ministry, but critics say gaps remain for noncredentialed roles and inconsistent local practices.

Advocates are calling for an independent review, a denomination-wide alert system for credibly accused leaders, mandatory background checks and training, and firm reporting rules.